John 20:21 – “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’”

An Extended Explanation of the Verse

This verse takes place on the evening of Jesus’ resurrection. The disciples were gathered in fear behind locked doors when Jesus suddenly appeared among them. He had already greeted them with “Peace be with you” in the previous verse (John 20:19), but now He repeats it—reinforcing the deep peace He gives to His followers.

Then Jesus shifts their focus from receiving peace to being sent. Just as the Father sent Jesus into the world, now Jesus is sending His disciples. This is a clear commissioning moment—Jesus is handing over His mission to them.

His words show that the disciples are not meant to remain in hiding. Instead, they are to take the message of His resurrection and salvation to the world. This is a pattern we see throughout Scripture: when God calls and restores people, He also sends them out to share His truth with others.

Historical Context

At this point, the disciples were in a state of shock, fear, and uncertainty. Their leader had been brutally executed just days earlier, and even though they were now seeing Him alive, they still didn’t fully grasp what was happening.

Jesus’ words “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” would have reminded them of everything He had been teaching for years. Throughout His ministry, Jesus had made it clear that He was sent by the Father (John 5:36; John 6:57). Now, He was telling His disciples that they had a mission, too.

In Jewish tradition, being “sent” by someone carried deep meaning. A person’s representative was considered to carry the same authority as the one who sent them. This means that Jesus was giving His disciples a divine assignment, not just a personal request.

This moment also foreshadows the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) when Jesus would later command His followers to go and make disciples of all nations.

Theological Implications

This verse teaches several key truths:

1. Jesus gives real peace. His first words to His disciples were about peace, showing that the Christian life is built on the foundation of His peace, not fear.
2. Christians are called to be sent. Christianity is not just about believing in Jesus; it is about being sent by Him into the world to share the Gospel.
3. Jesus’ mission becomes our mission. The Father sent Jesus to preach the Good News, heal the brokenhearted, and save the lost. Now, Jesus is passing that same mission on to His followers.
4. The authority of Jesus is given to His followers. The disciples weren’t sent on their own strength. Just as Jesus was sent with the authority of the Father, believers today are sent with the authority of Christ.

Literary Analysis

This verse is structured in two parts:

• “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you!’” – The repetition of this phrase emphasizes its importance. Jesus knows His disciples are afraid, so He reassures them again before giving them their mission.
• “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” – This is a direct comparison. Jesus is making it clear that His mission and the disciples’ mission are connected. Just as He was sent into the world to reveal God, believers are sent to continue His work.

This statement is also echoed in John 17:18, where Jesus prays to the Father, saying, “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”

Biblical Cross-References

• Matthew 28:19-20 – The Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations…”
• Mark 16:15 – “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
• Luke 24:47-48 – Jesus tells the disciples they will be His witnesses.
• Acts 1:8 – “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…”
• 2 Corinthians 5:20 – “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

This verse is not just for the original disciples—it applies to every believer. Just as Jesus sent them, He sends us.

• Christianity is active, not passive. Following Jesus means being sent out to share His message and live for Him in a world that needs the Gospel.
• We are Christ’s representatives. When people see us, they should see Jesus. We carry His name, His message, and His love to others.
• We don’t go alone. Jesus was sent by the Father with authority, and He sends us with the same authority. We don’t have to fear because He is with us.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

This verse reveals God’s love in two major ways:

1. God doesn’t leave us without purpose. He doesn’t just save us and leave us to figure things out on our own—He invites us to be part of His mission.
2. God wants the whole world to know Him. Jesus was sent because God loved the world (John 3:16). Now, He sends His followers so that more people can experience that love.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Everything about this verse revolves around Jesus:

1. He is the ultimate example of being sent. Jesus perfectly obeyed the Father’s mission, showing us how to live with purpose.
2. He is our peace. Before sending us, He gives peace—because without Him, we would only have fear.
3. He is our authority. When He sends us, it is with His power, not our own.

Other passages that reinforce these truths:

• John 14:12 – Jesus says His followers will do the works He has been doing, and even greater things.
• Colossians 3:17 – “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
• Hebrews 3:1 – Jesus is called “the apostle” (meaning “sent one”), showing that He was sent first, and we follow in His footsteps.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Why do you think Jesus repeated “Peace be with you” before giving the disciples their mission?
2. How does understanding that Jesus was sent by the Father help us understand our own calling?
3. What fears or doubts keep you from stepping out in faith and sharing the Gospel?
4. In what ways can you live as someone who is “sent” by Jesus in your daily life?
5. How can this verse change the way you see your purpose as a follower of Christ?

Jesus’ words in John 20:21 remind us that faith is not just about believing—it is about going. Just as Jesus was sent to bring hope and salvation, He now sends us to share His truth with the world. And just as He gave His disciples peace before sending them, He gives us the same peace today. We don’t go in our own strength—we go in His.